1998 Year of the Ocean Perspectives on Marine Environmental Quality 



PRESSURES ON MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY 



Population growth, coastal development, resource demand, climate, relative sea-level 

 rise, and natural coastal processes all affect marine environmental quality. Yet, nearly all of the 

 threats to habitat and marine environmental quality are human induced pressures — from physical 

 alteration of the environment to pollution impacts from human activities conducted either 

 directly in/on marine waters or within the watershed.'' Land based activities impact marine 

 environmental quality, which in turn influences other land and water activities. Increasing rates 

 of economic growth and urbanization, pollution, and changes to ecosystems, can result in user 

 conflicts in the marine environment. 



Economic Growth 



Coastal areas are becoming increasingly crowded, with approximately 130 million 

 people — more than half of the total U.S. population — currently residing within 80 miles of the 

 coast. Growing at a faster rate than the nation as a whole, U.S. coastal populations are expected 

 to reach 165 million people by the year 2015 (NOAA, 1997). Population growth translates into 

 employment opportunities, economic prosperity, new industry, improved regional infrastructure, 

 enhanced educational opportunities, and increased tax revenues. However, as coastal populations 

 grow, so does the stress placed on the environment. The features that first attracted people to the 

 coast can be lost or diminished if growth is not planned for or addressed during development. Of 

 course, one outcome of economic growth is that an economic base is developed from which 

 funds can be provided to ameliorate the impacts of growth. 



Increasing population generally results in the conversion of open land and forest for 

 activities such as commercial development, agriculture, forestry, and other activities that provide 

 economic growth. In addition to physically altering the habitat, coastal development can reduce 

 permeable surface area, thereby increasing the rate of runoff and impacting water quality by 

 transporting sediments, toxic chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, pathogens, nutrients, and other 

 pollutants to local waterways. Water recharge capacities can be reduced as habitat is changed to 

 accommodate urban development. This "hardening of the coast" places stress upon the water 

 table and can lead to saltwater intrusion and other marine environmental quality issues. 



As urbanization and inland activities increase, so do the volumes of municipal and 

 industrial waste discharged into local waterways. This can potentially impair water quality at the 

 same time that demands for potable water, natural resources, energy supplies, wastewater 

 treatment, and transportation of goods increase. Whether from runoff or discharges, excess 

 nutrients, sediments, pathogens, and toxic chemicals can impair water quality. This in turn can 

 result in a degradation or loss of fishing opportunities, changes in wildlife populations, a 

 reduction in the value of wetlands and estuaries, decreases in wetlands available for water 



^ Examples of activities that can impact marine environmental quality include conversion of open land and forests for 

 commercial or residential development, agriculture, forestry, construction, marinas, commercial fishing, shell-fishing, hydro- 

 modification activities (e.g., dams, dredging), and offshore drilling. 



E-5 



